Kotick named 16th most influential man

Online men's lifestyle site AskMen has named Activision boss Bobby Kotick as the 16th most influential man of 2010.

There are few people in the gaming industry who divide critics more than Activision Blizzard head honcho Bobby Kotick,” it reads. On one hand, shareholders love his ability to generate revenue and maximize profits, while on the other hand, hardcore gamers detest his perceived arrogance and utter disregard for originality.

It hardly helps matters that Kotick doesn't sugarcoat his statements to the press.

This brash 47-year-old CEO has openly admitted he has no interest in producing games that don't have the potential to be exploited year after year on every platform imaginable – even if it comes at the expense of smaller and more creatively appealing titles.”

Further to this attack on Kotick for daring to be – if you can even bring yourself to say it, a businessman – the site then goes on to make an extraordinary claim.

He has also infuriated legions of gamers by suggesting a strong desire to raise prices and charge for cut-scenes. It's radical ideas like these that have led more than one talking head to call him ‘the Hitler of the gaming industry'.

Kotick's critics can complain until they're blue in the face because as long as he retains control of franchises like Guitar Hero, Call of Duty and Tony Hawk, he'll continue to be one of the richest and most influential men on the planet.”